Neck Plate variation...

[dwf1004]

OK, here's something that has puzzled me:

I have had an EVH (that I sold in'97), my current EVH, and 2 Axis guitars (one which was recently sold).

On my guitars, both past and present, I've noticed a difference in the way that the silver neck plate on the back is situated. They have been in different formats, as listed below:

Current EVH: protrudes about 1/16" or so
Previous EVH: (I believe it was) flush with body *
Current Axis: flush with body
Previous Axis: protrudes about 1/16" or so

* I am pretty sure that is how this one was, because I base the oddness on my prev. experience, etc.

The neck is tight and all, so there's no shifting or movement because of it, but it just sparks my curiosity to know why some are like that, and some aren't? Also, would it be a sin (unless it will break/damage my neck) to tighten the bolts down to flush that plate with the back?

Other than that minute issue, Ernie Ball rocks!

Darrell

 

[ebb soul]

They're saving the production cost of routing the neck plate. Shame, it wuz a quality touch.

 

[Greg]

The decision to stop routing the neck plate was made due inconsistencies in production. The actual cost difference was minimal.

DO NOT try to tighten down the neck plate. If it is not routed for a flush mount, you will damage the guitar.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[dwf1004]

Yeah, Greg, I beat you to it over the weekend. I took 'er apart to give her a good cleaning, and I saw that there isn't any room for error re: that plate.

One of the other folks posted in the topics recommending Murphy's oil and a soft toothbrush on your neck...do it. I got 95% of the gray off of my fretboard by doing that about 4 times over my fretboard. My EVH shines like a purdy diamond now. I am kinda iffy on the lemon oil though, but if it's infrequent, I don't think it'd hurt too much.

As mentioned before, it's a shame, because that is a nice aesthetic thing. I can live with it, but man...what a drag. :-(

Greg, thanks for clearing the air on that, though!

Darrell

P.S. Greg, or anyone wishing to reply on this: if I decided to be insistent on this, get a wild hair, whatever, and get a luthier to route it out for me, would this throw anything off on the neck, i.e. tension/support, etc.? Just curious...

 

[mizzle]

i too am very curious about this neck plate being flush vs not being flush. i have two silhouettes and never even noticed that one was flush and one wasnt flush. another question that i have is that am i to assume that the one with the flush mounted neckplate is older than the one that isnt??

 

[dwf1004]

Great...I've dropped the pill, and have a bunch of people now frantically looking at the back of their guitars, now wondering if they're OK to play. ;-)

Seriously, from what Greg is saying, it appears that some just slipped through the cracks, etc. when it came to construction, and it just came to that some got the routing, some didn't. Greg, was that when they put the new guy at the end of the routing table? ;-)

Take care,

Darrell

P.S. Can I just say that it is cool as sh*t to have someone reliable like Greg to get us on the right track every day or so? Thanks Greg...you rock...man!

 

[Greg]

Mizz, we should check the serial numbers of your Silo's to verify their age. We started with non-routed neck plates, routed for a while, became unhappy with the quality consistency of the rout, and went back to the non-routed.

Darrell, routing the neck plate probably wouldn't effect the playability of the guitar (IF it's done properly), but it could effect the value. Most non-factory modifications decrease the desirability of the piece to collectors. If you're never going to sell it, who cares? Rock and Roll.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[dwf1004]

"IF it's done properly"...it WOULD be done properly, because it wouldn't be done by me. I can't even cut a piece of paper into a circle without diagrams. ;-)

As I said before, it's something that I can live with. I have no plans on selling my EVH...in fact, I DO have plans to have it inserted in my coffin once they throw my cold carcass into my 6 ft deep permanent residence.

Darrell

 

[ebb soul]

If it saved only ten cents per guitar, and you made 6000 in one year,[prolly conservative on both counts] ya kin see how it would begin to add up. Inconsistency could be considered a cost in my book as well, but I digress. I've never seen a sloppy job on any E.B.M.M. either way. Never seen sloppy ANYTHING.

 

[dwf1004]

Ebb:

Do agree with you on inconsistency being a bad thing, but on the same token, you have to gauge WHY that inconsistency was there. Greg had stated in a previous post relating to the Silhouette routing that they started without the routes, added them, didn't dig it, and went back to the non-route.

That said, there may have been orders from those on high at EB, or (gasp!) from customers that purchased a routed Sil or EVH, and were displeased. So, the only rational thing would be to go back to what worked...you know, "if it ain't broke..."

Funny, you never hear the words "displeased" and "EB" or "Music Man" in the same sentence...kinda like "Britney" and "smart", or "Apple" and "marketing". ;-)

Let's end this thread* by saying: even though it's a very nice aesthetic touch on the guitar, overall it doesn't affect my love and enjoyment of my guitar. EB has so many wonderful qualities in the (insert your guitar name here) that the route can be easily overlooked without issue. Now I digress.

Darrell

* though more are obviously free to comment; I'm not the final authority...that's Greg's the man.

 

[bradfordws]

I wonder if BP had ever considered using the recessed grommets and doing away with the neck plate altogether - maybe saving a few more cents in the process. I'm sure you've all seen other mfrs that use this method. I personally think it's a better way to go. Just a small complaint, but I've replaced all the neck screws in my MM's with flat head screws because those dome head screws will tear up your shirt if there's the smallest little sharp edge on the screw. I play in a disco band and was wearing a polyester shirt (of course) and had it happen - kinda jacked up the shirt. The coutoured heel was a nice touch on the Sterling, but ditching the neck plate would be very cool. Yes? No?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I wonder if BP had ever considered using the recessed grommets and doing away with the neck plate altogether - maybe saving a few more cents in the process. I'm sure you've all seen other mfrs that use this method. I personally think it's a better way to go. Just a small complaint, but I've replaced all the neck screws in my MM's with flat head screws because those dome head screws will tear up your shirt if there's the smallest little sharp edge on the screw. I play in a disco band and was wearing a polyester shirt (of course) and had it happen - kinda jacked up the shirt. The coutoured heel was a nice touch on the Sterling, but ditching the neck plate would be very cool. Yes? No?

I know a Stingray Bass owner who fixed that with a small piece of gaffa tape.